Liverpool are hoping that sending Andre Wisdom on loan to Derby County will help to improve their prospects of landing Rams wonderkid Will Hughes.

The England Under-21 skipper is expected to join Steve McClaren’s side shortly and the Daily Star reports that the move is seen as a bargaining chip.

The Reds are one of a number of Premier League sides tracking highly-rated midfielder Hughes.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester Utd and Spanish side Barcelona are all reported to be interested in the 18-year-old, and McClaren has acknowledged that he will be powerless to keep Hughes at Pride Park.

Brendan Rodgers will be hoping that his efforts to help Derby shore up their leaky defence with the versatile Wisdom don’t go unnoticed when the bids start flying in for Hughes.